In this position you will work in the Pharmacy Department at the Raymond G Murphy VA Medical Center. The incumbent is responsible for analyzing real and potential drug-related medical problems and implementing corrective action to ensure that patients receive optimal drug therapy. The clinical pharmacist also applies standards relating to all aspects of distribution and scheduled and non-scheduled drugs.

Duties

Duties of this position include but are not limited to: Providing appropriate selection of drug therapy based upon the pharmaceutical principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; monitoring for efficacy, side effects and clinical outcome; and advises prescribers as appropriate. Providing patient-specific medication reconciliation and evaluation of prescribed medication; therapeutic drug monitoring; and communicating relevant findings and/or recommendations to other health care providers in charge of the patient both orally and in writing. Determining therapeutic appropriateness of a patient's drug regimen and reviewing for therapeutic duplication (poly-pharmacy) in the patient's drug regimen. Reviewing drug-drug, drug-food, drug-laboratory, or drug disease interactions. Monitoring clinical and pharmacokinetic laboratory data to evaluate the efficacy of drug therapy and to anticipate side effects, toxicity, or adverse effects Providing appropriate medication selection based on local, VISN and/or national VHA policies, guidelines and/or criteria for use and appropriate IV to PO conversion based on local, VISN and/or national VHA policies, guidelines and/or criteria for use. Performing evaluation and assessment of prescribed medication to assure optimal drug therapy, as well as to address / discontinue duplicate therapies / prescriptions that are no longer required / desired (poly-pharmacy). Providing medication counseling to patients, family members and care givers as needed / as appropriate. Completing medication histories including patient interviews. Participating in reviewing charts; evaluating pertinent laboratory data, drug-drug and drug-nutrient interactions; monitors for adverse drug effects; and screens for allergies. Performing medication reconciliation at all transitions of care, including updating the medication profile to reflect an accurate, active list of VA and non-VA medications. Assessing drug safety and efficacy, including evaluation of physical symptoms. Reporting adverse drug events (ADE), near misses, and medication errors in alignment with VA ADERS reporting program. Participating in the medical center medication utilization evaluation (MUE) program when requested. Recommending formulary alternatives and completes non-formulary consults within the required 96-hours. Ensuring consult includes documentation to support non-formulary decision. Ensuring that "Restricted" drugs are evaluated and processed consistent with approved prescribing criteria. Entering patient reconciliation and education documentation notes into patients CPRS medical record. Completing encounters consistent with Medical Center timelines, and routinely complies with the unsigned / un-cosigned compliance measure. Participating in medical emergencies including code teams and emergency preparedness activities as requested. Implementing P&T Committee policies including therapeutic interchanges and automatic substitutions to include appropriate patient and provider education. Providing pharmacokinetic consultation as appropriate, including renal dosing in accordance with local policy. Managing recalls and medication shortage situations by substituting alternate dosage strengths and instructions of the same medication to equal the prescribed dose and schedule as directed. Managing various actions, as appropriate for medication orders to include: flagging prescriptions, and managing view alerts Maintaining efficiency, productivity and performance in all areas consistent with approved Pharmacy team standards Work Schedule: Rotating Schedule Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Compressed/Flexible:Not available. Telework: Not available Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Language. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Licensure. Full, current, and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia. The pharmacist must maintain current registration if this is a requirement for maintaining full, current, and unrestricted licensure. A pharmacist who has, or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16. Exception. Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. For grade levels above the GS-11, the candidate must be licensed. Education. (1) Graduate of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60602-5109; phone: (312) 664-3575, or through their Web site at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.) (2) Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the graduate is able to provide proof of achieving the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Commission (FPGEC) Certification, which includes passing the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-11 Experience: None beyond the basic requirements listed above. GS-12 Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following: 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard GS-660 Veterans Health Administration. Physical Requirements: The work requires the Staff Pharmacist to be independently mobile throughout the medical center as needed. Significant time is spent reading (charts, reports, etc.), documenting in the computerized patient record, and verbally communicating with patients, colleagues, supervisors and/or community partners. Some standing (4 hours), walking (4 hours), and lifting or carrying (moderately heavy) may be involved. S/he should be capable using both hands and fingers, be able to hear (with or without hearing aids), distinguish colors and have correctable vision.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Raymond G Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1501 San Pedro Drive, Southeast Albuquerque, NM 87108 US
• Name: Sandra Placencia
• Phone: 916-843-9225
• Email: [email protected]